Essential Needs Program

SMC Essential Needs Program

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students sitting on bench at SMC

Welcome!

The SMC Essential Needs Program serves to improve students’ overall experience at SMC by sharing information and resources that address essential needs and insecurities that students face. We understand essential needs as an ecosystem that includes core needs related to housing, food, financial, and healthcare security and access; while also expanding to include needs related to access to technology, textbooks, transportation, clothing, and more. 

The Essential Needs Program is committed to offering education and information about available essential needs resources so as to anticipate and intervene before a student experiences crisis. An anticipatory or preventative approach that identifies systematic drivers of essential needs insecurity will allow the SMC campus to reduce barriers to access and foster holistic student wellbeing. 

Who is eligible for essential needs support?

students sitting on steps at SMC

All enrolled undergraduate and graduate students including transfer students, student athletes, 1st generation students, international students, veteran students, and undocumented students are eligible for SMC Essential Needs resources and services.